Victims identified in fiery Westminster crash

A local woman is in critical condition after a fiery head-on two-car collision Thursday night on Route 140.

Police Chief Salvatore Albert said Alexis Maillet, 20, of Westminster was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus in Worcester after firefighters and police pulled her from her burning car.

Two other the victims, Robert Walker, 59, and his passenger Patrick Cooley, 54, both of Westminster, were taken to Heywood Hospital in Gardner for for apparent minor injuries.

The accident is still under investigation by Westminster police and the State Police accident reconstruction team. The accident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. near 196 Worcester Road, which is Route 140. Chief Albert said the accident happened near an area where the highway goes through a series of S-curves Ms. Maillet's 2002 Oldsmobile Alero went out of control, crossing from the northbound lane into the opposite lane, colliding with Mr. Walker's 2010 Chrysler 300. Ms. Maillet's vehicle then burst into flames.

“The actions of this neighbor provided critical care to the occupant prior to arrival” of rescuers, the chief said. He described the neighbor as having “professional training.”

When police arrived, they tried to put out the fire with a hand-held fire extinguisher until firefighters could get there, according to the release. Firefighters joined in the effort, also using hand-held extinguishers, which initially controlled the blaze until the canisters ran dry, and fire “took over the vehicle passenger compartment with the occupant” still inside, the chief said.

“The rescue personnel had to leave the passenger alone trapped in the vehicle for a period of time as the flames drove them away, before the flames were driven back” again, Chief MacAloney said.

Firefighters were able to provide enough protection for the victim until a fire engine could get a fire hose hooked up and finally snuff out the flames.

A Woods Ambulance crew from Gardner arrived to help the two injured people trapped in the other car, according to Chief MacAloney. Meanwhile firefighters using the Jaw of Life continued working to free the victim still trapped in the burned car.

Once freed, that victim was taken by Westminster Fire Department Ambulance to UMass.

The road was blocked off from Mill Hill Road, about a half mile south of the crash scene.